Bayer is set to expand its operations in Russia, adding more than 800 new jobs over the next four years to help drive a substantial increase in its sales in the country. The German pharma company expects sales of its products in Russia to rise by 80 per cent to €1.3bn by 2017, aided by growing demand from a rising middle class. Bayer is currently the fourth-largest pharmaceutical company in Russia thanks to last year sales in the country that reached €726m, with its healthcare business accounting for 67 per cent of the total.